Fiesta Sports Foundation to host 1st national Division 1 women’s flag football tournament at ASU

Fiesta Sports Foundation announced Thursday that it has launched a national NCAA Division 1 women’s flag football tournament in April, which will take place over two days at Arizona State University’s Fields at Dorsey.

The 7-on-7 tournament, Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic presented by Oakley, will feature eight teams including the Sun Devils on April 18-19.

ASU will be joined in the first-of-its-kind competition by Grand Canyon, Alabama State, Charlotte, UCF, USC, Georgia and Florida.

“For more than 50 years, Fiesta Sports Foundation has been focused on innovation, hospitality and creating unforgettable experiences,” Erik Moses, Fiesta Sports Foundation executive director and CEO, said in a press release. “As flag football continues its rapid ascent nationwide, bringing forth the first-ever national college event for the ever-growing Division 1 community helps to elevate the collegiate game, celebrate these student-athletes and shape the future of the sport on a national stage.”

The tournament format will be three games of pool play before a playoff bracket and single-game elimination determines the winner.

Sun Devils team captain Sierra Smith said this milestone event illustrates “the belief that others have shown in (flag football’s) future.”

ASU head coach Jesse Pap added that he is “proud” of his squad “earning the opportunity” to play in such a historic, elite field.

How much has women’s flag football grown?

More than 2.5 million females are competing at the college and high school level across the U.S., according to the release.

The NCAA has recognized this growth spurt by hailing women’s flag football as an “emerging sport,” as more than 150 schools and nearly 60 Division 1 institutions offer the sport at the club or varsity level.

Nebraska became the first Power Four conference school to offer scholarships for the sport’s athletes. Makena Cook of California was the first girl to be offered such a scholarship by Cornhuskers football coach Matt Rhule on Monday.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature men’s and women’s flag football for the first time on an Olympics stage with games hosted at Exposition Stadium.

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